Councilman and Fire Chief Last City Council Meeting

Two men sat through their final City Council meeting on Wednesday evening after years of service to our community. Jeff Batty, councilman, resigned effective immediately last night as he plans to retire soon.

Drew Schumacher, Fire Chief until the end of March, submitted his letter of resignation in January and will be transferring command in a formal ceremony to Anthony Blint on April 10th. He mentioned the upcoming Fire Department pancake and sausage breakfast this Saturday, from 6-10am. This is a free will donation and the public is invited. Maybe you will even get to see a firetruck up close!

 

City Council Votes on “Dangerous Animal”

A public hearing was held for two dangerous animals yesterday evening at the Mt. Pleasant City Council meeting. After a dog was presumably attacked by two other dogs at Eastlake Park on February 25th, the two assailants were deemed “dangerous.” The victim dog died at that time.

While no charges were filed to the owners, the City Council did vote to affirm the designation of “dangerous animal” which gives the owners 3 days to remove the pets from city limits or euthanize them.

Sports, March 28th

High School Track and Field

The Danville, WACO, and Van Buren County girls’ teams will travel to Mediapolis for a meet today.

The WACO and New London boys’ teams will travel to Van Buren County for a meet today.

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ and girls’ teams will host their Invitational today with the West Burlington and Mediapolis boys’ teams in attendance. 

The Central Lee girls’ team will travel to Fairfield for a meet on April 2nd. 

The Winfield-Mt. Union boys and girls’ teams will participate in a relay at Mediapolis on April 2nd.  

The New London girls’ team will travel to WACO for a meet on April 2nd. 

High School Soccer

The WACO boys’ team will open the season tonight against Fairfield on the road at 5 pm.

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ team will host Wapello tonight at 5 pm, while the boys’ team will face off against Mt. Pleasant on April 1st at 7 pm at home. 

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team will host Clear Creek Amana tonight at 5 pm, while the girls’ team will travel to take on the Clippers at the same time.

The Mediapolis boys’ team will compete against Keokuk tonight at 5 pm on the road. 

The Central Lee boys’ team will host Centerville on April 2nd and the girls’ team will travel to Mid-Prairie on the same day with both games starting at 5 pm.

The Danville boys’ team will battle Mediapolis in a road matchup on April 4th at 5 pm.

Soccer Rankings

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Association released the first rankings of the season with the top teams being Des Moines Christian for Class 1A, Dallas Center-Grimes for Class 2A, and Valley for Class 3A.

Despite losing the first game of the postseason last year, Burlington grabbed the #15 slot for Class 2A. The Grayhounds finished 12-6 last year including an unblemished record in regular season play against the Southeast Conference. A big reason for their expected success is they return everyone, including Jenna Hentzel, who had an 84.9% save percentage.

High School Tennis

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will host Davis County today and the boys’ team will travel to Davis County on the same day. 

High School Golf

The Central Lee boys’ team will travel to Elks Fairview Golf Club today for an invitational. 

The WACO boys’ and girls’ teams will compete in a meet hosted by New London on April 2nd. 

The Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ and girls’ teams will travel to Columbus to participate in a meet on April 4th. 

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will travel to Washington Golf and Country Club on April 1st and the boys’ team will participate in a conference match at Fairfield Golf and Country Club on the same day. 

Southeastern Community College

In baseball, SCC will travel to face off against Des Moines Area Community College tomorrow, March 28th, in a doubleheader. 

The SCC softball team’s doubleheader against Kirkwood Community College was postponed yesterday. The Blackhawks will face off against Iowa Western Community College tomorrow, March 29th, at home in a doubleheader.

College Basketball

The #1-seed Iowa women’s team will battle with the #5-seed Colorado in the Sweet 16 on Saturday, March 30th, with tipoff at 2:30 pm. 

The #2-seed Iowa State men’s team will face off against #3 Illinois tonight at 9:10 pm. 

March Madness

The KILJ bracket challenge, sponsored by The Press Box and Wiley’s Interior Furnishings and Design, is officially underway with over 30 brackets submitted with the top three set to receive prizes.

Standings have been updated and you can find them here: KILJ Bracket Challenge Standings

This Day in Sports History

1891 – First world weightlifting championship won by Edward Lawrence in London, England.

1933 – First SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament: Kentucky beats Mississippi State, 46-27.

1975 – NHL Washington Capitals win their first game on road after 37 straight road losses.

Prep Girls’ Soccer: First Rankings of the Season

Prep Girls’ Soccer- The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released their first rankings for the girls’ soccer season and here’s the top teams.

In Class 1A, Des Moines Christian enters the season as the favorite after falling to Gilbert in the state tournament semifinals last season. Davenport Assumption is ranked second followed by last year’s state champion, Bishop Heelan, who returns their top goal-scorer in Trelyn White as she netted 33 goals last season. The runner-up, Gilbert, rounds out the top four. Further down the list is #9 Hudson, who also qualified for the state tournament last season. Pella Chrisitan rounds out the top 15 as the Eagles downed Ottumwa 2-1 to start the season.

Last year’s Class 2A state champion, Dallas Center-Grimes, enters this season as the #1 team and for good reason; the Mustangs return their top four goal scorers including Kylie Knief and Olivia Cyr who combined for 53 goals last season. Waverly-Shell Rock was last year’s runner-up, so fittingly the Go-Hawks are ranked 2nd. The Pella Dutch are hoping that Abby Warner has another spectacular season after netting 45 goals last season as they are ranked 3rd. North Scott might have only lost to Dallas Center-Grimes by one last year in the state tournament, but the Lancers are regulated to 6th on the list.

Despite losing the first game of the postseason last year, Burlington grabbed the #15 slot. The Grayhounds finished 12-6 last year including an unblemished record in regular season play against the Southeast Conference. A big reason for their expected success is they return everyone, including Jenna Hentzel, who had an 84.9% save percentage.

For Class 3A, Valley, last year’s runner-up, holds the crown as the top team. Johnston, the defending champion, is all the way down to 5th in the rankings. Waukee Northwest is ranked 2nd after the Wolves finished 17-2 last season. Waukee is expected to make a big jump after going 8-8 last season. The Warriors return their entire starting lineup after graduating just one student-athlete from last year’s squad. Dowling Catholic, despite qualifying for state last season, enters the rankings at 9th. Iowa City High rounds out the list at #15.

Mt. Pleasant to Host Preserve Iowa Summit – Register Here!

Registration is open for the Preserve Iowa Summit to be held in Mount Pleasant on June 6-8, 2024!

Some highlights of the Preserve Iowa Summit in Mount Pleasant:

– pre-conference mixer on Wed June 5 from 6-8 at East Grove Farms – a farm in the Garretson family since 1837.

– Thursday June 6 is packed with numerous events – info and training sessions by SHPO and a historic windows seminar in morning, keynote address by Brent Leggs from the National Trust, preservation awards, evening reception in the historic and restored three-story Union Block, and highlights from the downtown Mt Pleasant survey project

– Friday June 7 is filled with four educational sessions and tours that span for the full day and the evening is capped off with a dinner on the grounds of Midwest Old Threshers, with its many attractions to be open for attendees

– Saturday June 8 is a series of speakers in a longer session directed to all conference attendees including historic preservation commissions and others interested in history and historic preservation in a community, with lunch and walking tour of downtown Mount Pleasant included.

The Preserve Iowa Summit is the state’s premier conference for professionals and volunteers involved in historic preservation. Through expert presentations, workshops and tours, participants will learn new ways to preserve Iowa’s past for the future. The 2024 summit will take place in Mount Pleasant located in southeastern Iowa.

The link to register:

https://web.cvent.com/event/7EE18B8E-54A2-4EA1-99CF-5745BCFFB862/summary?fbclid=IwAR2dfUYZrEV7uwFZwx7a1_sUmeCCLh7UQPkuUNnVyXILQKCgJCtCtAuz1mo_aem_AWrqSx_lr2IKkRCP-qgeqcVc2DkC7rYJ9PrRa2P6dFYG4JI28AzwA95B2vC-O2ja7s6MM21njF4IhYpugTcZ8z4v

Fuel Prices Rise Again – Weekly Fuel Report

2 cents is the difference between a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline between last week and now, as prices continue to rise. This price of $3.33 is now 16 cents higher than this time last year, but 21 cents cheaper than the national average.

Diesel prices shrunk by a penny, now sitting at $3.78 across the state, which is 7 cents cheaper than a year ago. The national average is $4.05, which is 27 cents higher than in Iowa.

Propane prices averaged $1.58 per gallon statewide and home heating oil prices saw no change, still at $3.20.

Natural gas prices rose 2 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $1.72/MMbtu.

Tips for saving energy on the road or at home are available at energy.gov and fueleconomy.gov.

Ronald Menke

Ronald Maurice Menke, 65, of the Kensington in Fort Madison, passed away at 8:12 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at the Kensington.

 

He was born on  September 17, 1958, in Fort Madison, Iowa, the son of Lawrence John and Eleanor Jane (Reed) Menke.

 

Survivors include his mother: Eleanor; four brothers: Dale (Sharon) Menke, Ray (Sue) Menke, Jake (Laura) Menke and Phil (Sharon) Menke; one sister: Karen (Bob) Hill; nephews: Tony Menke, Scott Menke, Nate Menke, Ben Menke and Brandon Menke; two nieces: Jessica and Amber Hill, Megan (Alex) Magner and Jennifer (Trevor) Hope; one step nephew: Brandon Fields; great nieces and nephews: Gabe and Sam Menke, Lyla and Logan Hope and Ada Magner. Also surviving are several aunts, uncles and cousins.

 

He was preceded in death by his father: Lawrence and brother: Kurt Menke.

 

Ron was a graduate of Marquette High School and Lincoln Tech. He worked as a mechanic at the Montgomery Ward Auto Department, Churchill Trucking, Menke Corp and the Wal-Mart Warehouse.

 

The family will meet with friends from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 30, 2024, at  Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point.

 

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 30, 2024, at the Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point with Fr Dan Dorau officiating.

 

Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in West Point.

 

Memorials may be made to the Kensington or the Fort Madison Food Pantry.

 

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com

 

 

Craig Manning

Craig Allan Manning, 69, of Brighton, passed away Monday, March 25, 2024 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

Friends may call after 2:00 p.m. with visitation for family and friends from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, March 28, 2024 at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield.

Funeral services celebrating his life will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 29, 2024, at Hope Lutheran Church in Germanville with Pastor Ryan Dexter officiating.  Cremation will follow the service with inurnment at a later date at Hope Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the family for a memorial to be designated.

Craig was born September 2, 1954, in Fairfield, the son of Kenneth and Donna (Snider) Manning.  He married Mary Schantz, September 11, 1982, at Hope Lutheran Church. She preceded him in death July 4, 2022.

Craig was a farmer and worked as a CNC machinist. He also worked in construction, and hauling gravel.

Craig played fastpitch softball for many years. He coached little league teams when his daughters were young and enjoyed his meeting with his group of friends for breakfast. Craig loved spending time with his granddaughters.

Those left to honor his memory include his daughters, Emily Manning (Patrick Ives) and Amber Manning, both of Fairfield; two granddaughters, Harper and Lydia Ives; sister, Marlis (John Hamilton) Wagner of Des Moines; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, and daughter, Elizabeth Manning.

Online condolences may be made to Craig’s family by viewing his obituary at www.behnerfh.com.